valance

English

Alternative forms

• valaunce (obsolete)
• valence
• vallance (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English valance, valans, valaunce, valence, valons. Origin uncertain. Probably from Anglo-Norman valaunce, valence, from valer (“go down, let down”), aphetic form of Old French avaler (“to descend, go down”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈvæləns/
• Rhymes: -æləns

Noun

valance (plural valances)

1. A short curtain that usually hangs along the top edge of a window.
   • 1969, David G. Irwin, The Visual Arts, Taste and Criticism, page 27:

     Even the mantelpiece is adorned with a totally unfunctional tasselled valance rather like an altar frontal.

2. A decorative framework used to conceal the curtain mechanism and so on at the top of a window.
3. A short, decorative edging of cloth that hangs from a bed, from beneath the mattress to the floor, used to conceal the box spring or space under the bed and prevent dust from accumulating there.
4. A short, decorative edging of cloth that conceals the legs of a couch, sofa, etc.
   • 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 145:

     Mortally insulted, Jasper went under the couch, where he remained with only his nose showing beneath the valance, emitting little world-weary groans at intervals, and refusing to come out for cake.

6. (automotive) A low-hanging auto body panel, below a front or rear bumper, whose purpose is aerodynamic and decorative but not structural (often valance panel).
7. The drooping edging of the lid of a trunk, which covers the joint when the lid is closed.

Synonyms

• (bedding): dust ruffle, bedskirt, bed ruffle

Derived terms

• valanced

Translations

short curtain on top of a window

• Bulgarian: драперия (bg) f (draperija)
• Finnish: kappaverho, kappa (fi)
• Hebrew: וילונית (he) f (vilonit)
• Russian: сваг (ru) m (svag)

decorative framework used to conceal the curtain mechanism

• Finnish: verholauta, kappalauta

short, decorative edging of a mattress

• Finnish: helma (fi), helmalakana (fi)
• Russian: по́лог (ru) m (pólog)

short, decorative edging of cloth that conceals the legs of a couch, sofa, etc.

• Finnish: helma (fi)

drooping edging of the lid of a trunk